Strictly Come Dancing star Toyah Willcox back on the bill for Stone Valley South 2025
Toyah Willcox, the surprise hit of Stone Valley South 2023, is back by popular demand next year.
The 1980s star has been confirmed for a slot at next summer’s three-day event at Hillside Farm, Great Amwell.
She is back firmly in the spotlight after more than 40 years as a singer and actress and a back catalogue including 13 top 40 singles, 25 albums, 40 stage plays and 20 films.
Earlier this year, the punk priestess was a contestant in the 22nd series of Strictly Come Dancing.
After decades of energetic windmilling on stage, she might have seemed a shoo-in for at least the semi-finals, but she was eliminated in the second dance-off in week three.
Toyah and professional Neil Jones were defeated by former footballer Paul Merson and his partner Karen Hauer, with judge Craig Revel Horwood highlighting Toyah’s timing and loss of balance.
Nevertheless, she will join the cast of NOW That’s What I Call A Musical, as a special guest star, during the tour’s stop at Edinburgh Playhouse next year. The show is directed and choreographed by Horwood.
When Toyah appeared at Stone Valley South in 2023, she was relegated to an early-afternoon spot but managed to attract a large and curious crowd.
She did not disappoint, with spirited renditions of her hits including It’s A Mystery, I Want to Be Free and Brave New World plus an eclectic selection of covers.
The highlight was her performance of David Bowie’s Heroes with her husband Robert Fripp.
Fripp, the founder of prog rockers King Crimson, was Brian Eno’s choice to work on Bowie’s track and album of the same name.
Together, he and Toyah produced a moment of magic at the festival and followed it up with a spot at Glastonbury later in the summer.
Toyah joins Public Image Ltd (PiL) on the Stone Valley South bill. The band, fronted by former Sex Pistols singer John Lydon, aka Johnny Rotten, is headlining the opening night of the three-day festival on Friday May 23.
Other confirmed acts include Dutty Moonshine Big Band and Punk Rock Factory, making their Stone Valley debuts, and a welcome return by former The Specials and Fun Boy Three member, the original rude boy Neville Staple.
Back by popular demand after a storming set last year are Ferocious Dog and festival favourites Death of Guitar Pop.
Also confirmed in the first wave of acts – with two more headliners and other performers yet to be revealed – are The Skids, Bar Stool Preachers, Goodbye Mr McKenzie, Porkpie, Buster Shuffle, Sex Pissed Dolls, Riskee & The Ridicule, Armory Show and Jeramiah Ferrari.
Tickets for Stone Valley Festival (May 23-25) are on sale from www.stonevalleyfestival.co.uk. As well as day and weekend tickets, the event offers camping options.
